Racking machines for filling pressurised casks



May 1, 19 2 J. E. REEVE 3,032,078

RACKING MACHINES FOR FILLING PRESSURISED CASKS Filed June 21, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 1, 1962 J. E. REEVE 3,032,078

RACKING MACHINES FOR FILLING PRESSURISED CASKS Filed June 21, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1952 J. E. REEVE 3,032,078

RACKING MACHINES FOR FILLING PRESSURISED CASKS Filed June 21, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 RACKING MACHINES FOR FILLING PRESSURISED CASKS F iled June 21, 1960 J. E. REEVE May 1, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q QM y 1962 J. E. REEVE 3,032,078

RACKING MACHINES FOR FILLING PRESSURISED CASKS Filed June 21, 1960 5 Sheets$heet 5 This invention relates to racking machines for filling valved pressurised casks with liquid in particular alcoholic or carbonated liquid into metal containers and of the kind in which a plurality of racking heads are mounted for rotation together with the casks to be filled, conveyor means being provided to feed the machine with empty casks and receive them when filled, the racking heads being automatically raised and lowered in turn to engage the filling valves .of the casks during operation of the machine.

According to the present invention a racking machine for filling valved casks with a liquid comprises a plurality of racking heads arranged circumferentially of a liquid reservoir and supported each by a bracket thereon, pneumatically operated means assembled with each racking head whereby said head can be vertically reciprocated, a rotary table adapted to bring the casks below said racking heads, conveyor means for feeding empty casks to said table and for receiving filled casks therefrom and cushioning means arranged between each bracket and racking head assembly to provide for relative movement between said racking head and the valves of the cask to ensure accurate engagement and a. gas and liquid tight seal and gas and liquid conduits from said reservoir to each racking head.

Preferably, the cushioning means comprises a rubber member of annulus form which supports the cylinder of the pneumatically operating means, the arrangement being such that a racking head suspended from the piston rod of the pneumatic cylinder has a controlled angular movement so that it is self-centering when applied to the valve of a cask disposed immediately below the racking head.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates diagrammatically in side elevation a racking machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1 on a somewhat smaller scale.

FIG. 3 is a sectional side elevation on a larger scale of a racking head assembly.

FIG. 4 shows in sectional elevation a racking head;

FIG. 5 shows in sectional elevation a cask valve; and- FIG. 6 is a section on the line 11-11 of FIG. 5.

Referring to the drawings, the racking machine illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a-reservoir 4for alcoholic or carbonated liquid provided with a skirt 5 of octagonal form in plan, the faces of which have secured thereto plates 6 by means of which racking heads 7 are mounted in place circumferentially of the reservoir 4.

The reservoir 4 is mounted on a capstan 8 and rotatable on a piller 9 disposed axially of a rotatable table 10 arranged to carry in a circular path, metal casks 11 to be filled. The metal casks are fed to the table 10 of the racking machine by means of a conveyor 12, empty casks being delivered from the conveyor by feed arms 13 which operate in conjunction with a guide wall 14 to divert the casks 11 from the conveyor 12 to the feed table 10. A similar arrangement of feed arms 15 and guide walls 16 are arranged at the exit side of the table 10 to divert filled casks back to the conveyor 12.

Each racking head 7 (see especially FIG. 3) comprises "ice a pneumatic cylinder 17, the piston rod. 18 of which is connected to a racking head 7 by a rod 19, the racking head 7 being attached to a cross member 20 provided with vertical guide rods 21 engageable in orifices 22 in the plate 6, in addition the plate 6 having secured thereto dependent rods 23 provided with lugs 24 with which the lower parts of the guide rods 21 slidably engage upon a vertical reciprocating movement being imparted to the racking head upon actuation of the piston rod 18 of the pneumatic cylinder 17. The pneumatic cylinder 17 is mounted on a sleeve 25 which extends through the plate 6 and is clamped thereto by a nut 26. The sleeve 25 is embraced by a resilient member 27 of annulus form preferably of rubber, the resilient member being clamped in place against a shoulder 28 by means of nut 26 and plate 6 and in addition is embraced by a mounting bracket 30 secured in place by a washer 31 by screws 32. 33 is an entry for alcoholic liquid which is fed thereto from the reservoir by a flexible pipe 34 connected to the base of the reservoir 4, similarly gas under pressure isfed to the racking head 7 by a pipe 35 from a flexible connection 36 communicating with the top of the reservoir 4.

The racking head 7 is prevented from axial rotation by means of a forked member 37 arranged to engage one of the guide rods 23. The head however has a cone of movement due to the fact that the cylinder 17 and plate 6 from which the head is supported rest solely on the resilient ring 27 and have no fixed mechanical connection with the mounting bracket 30. By this means the head 7 will readily centre on the valve of a cask when brought thereunder for filling purposes.

The metal containers or casks are of known construction provided with a valve inlet for the entrance of alcoholic liquid and the passage of gas. The valve is preferably constructed in accordance with the invention disclosed in the specification of co-pending U.S. application for patent Serial No. 27,158, filed May 5, 1960. Furthermore, the racking head 7 for co-operation with the aforesaid valve is in accordance with the invention disclosed in the specification of co-pending U.S. application for patent Serial No. 27,000, filed May 5, 1960.

Referring to FIG. 4, the racking head 7 illustrated comprises a valve body 1a provided with a head 2 screw threaded thereto as at 3a and provided with a sealing washer 4a to make sealing engagement with the rim of a cask valve on pressure being applied to the assembly by means of an actuating member 5a. Location with the cask valve is facilitated by the centering cone 2a. The valve body in is of cylindrical form and provides a peripheral seating 6:1 for a gas valve member 7a in turn providing a seating 8a for a liquid valve member 911. all of which are concentrically arranged. The gas valve member 7a is in screw threaded engagement with one end of an outer sleeve 10a slidable in the valve body In against the loading. of a spring 11a: which bears at its upper end against a shoulder 12:; provided on an inner main sleeve 13a. The inner sleeve 13a is screwed to a spider 14a and fixed by a pin 15a, the spider being screw threaded at 16:: to carry the valve stem 17a of the liquid valve member 9a. The upper end of the inner sleeve 13a is screw threaded to a bush 18a to which is connected a liquid supply pipe 1%. The inner main sleeve 13a is fitted with a cap 20a which encloses a spring 21a, the pressure of which against the valve body In and an inturned edge 22a of the cap 20a, maintains the valves 7a and 9a closed on their seatings. The collar 5a is located in place by the bush 18a. The gas valve member 9a is provided with a pin extension 23a and the gas valve member 7a is provided with a circular rim extension 24a. The extensions 23a and 24a serve to open the liquid and gas passages respectively of a pressure cask valve such as described hereinafter and in the aforesaid co-pending application fior patent. The liquid valve member has a seating valve washer 25a. and the gas valve member a valve washer 26a respectively. Rubber sealing rings 27a and 30a are fitted in the spider 14a and valve body 1a respectively, to ensure a sliding seal between the spider and body and the sleeve a with which they are in sliding engagement. 28a is a gas inlet to the racking head.

The valve 9a is provided with flats 31a to engage a suitable key spanner. The valve stem 17a is sufficiently long to engage the spider 14a when springs 11a. and 21a are freely extended. Removal of valve 9a enables all parts in contact with liquid or gas to be readily removed fior cleaning.

The spider 14a is provided with passages 2' a for the through flow of liquid.

In operation of the racking head, the head 2a is applied to a valve in sealing engagement and continued pressure will move downwardly the main sleeve 13:: together with the spider 14a which carries with it the liquid valve member 9a and the gas valve member 7a to remove it from its seating 6a and allow the passage of gas to or from the gas inlet 28a through the head 2a from or to the cask valve, the gas valve member of which is opened by the rim extension 24a.

This movement will continue until the stops 32a attached to gas valve member 7a contact the head 2a, relative movement compressing the spring 21a. Further movement of the main sleeve 13a. downwardly will remove valve 9 from its seating 8a and the pin extension 23a will open the liquid valve member of the cask valve, thus admitting liquid from the supply pipe 19a through the passages 29a and into the cask, relative movement compressing both springs 11a and 21a.

Referring to FIG. 5, the drawing illustrates a valve body 3b attached to a cask 11 in the known manner, by means of a breech-lock for example, with the interposition of a gasket 5b. The valve body 317 has attached thereto on the underside thereof, a sleeve 6b to embrace an outer valve member 7b of cylindrical form enclosing an inner valve member 8' also of cylindrical form and provided with a closed end 81'). The outer valve member 7b is fitted with a bush 9b at its inner end to receive a liquid entry pipe 101; which in the usual way extends to a point adjacent the bottom of the cask 11. The upper end of the outer valve member 7b has a seating 11b on the valve body and is spring loaded by means of a spring 12b disposed between a shoulder 13!) on the outer valve member 71) and a flange 1412 on the sleeve 61;. The inner valve member is also spring loaded by means of a spring 15b which bears at one end on the bush 9b and at the other end on a shoulder 165 provided on the inner cylindrical valve member 8', the spring loading maintains the latter valve member closed on a seating 17b provided on the outer valve member 7b. Ports 18b are provided in the inner valve member for the passage of the alcoholic liquor when the valve 812 is moved off its seating 17b and ports 1% are provided in the sleeve 6b to permit the passage of gas when the outer valve member 7b is moved away from its seating 11b, in both cases against the action of their related springs 15/) and 12b respectively.

A gas and liquid-tight seal can be accomplished by the engagement of the rim 24a with the cask valve, springs 11a and 21a serving to return the parts to the closed position when the racking head is retracted and to provide the necessary sealing pressure to washer 4a and rim 24a, and by a similar operation except that after the mating of the racking head with the cask valve, the operating is effected by pressure on the sealing washer and the annulus forms 27a.

Thus, the racking head comprises a valve body 1a provided with a head 2' screw threaded thereto and provided with a sealing washer 4a to make sealing engagement with the rim of a valve upon application of pressure to the assembly. Engagement of the racking cask valve is facilitated by the centering cone 2a.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A racking mechanism for filling valved casks With a liquid which comprises a reservoir for liquid, a plurality of vertically reciprocable racking heads, which are relatively laterally movable with respect to each valve of a cask which is to be filled, such movement being provided so that each cask valve will be ensured of accurate engagement with its corresponding racking head, and mounted circumferentially with respect to said reservoir, gas and liquid supply conduits connecting said reservoir with said racking heads, a pneumatic cylinder above each racking head, a piston rod connection between each racking head and its cylinder, a sleeve around said connection, an apertured plate mounted on said sleeve, a resilient annular member mounted around said sleeve above said plate, a cross member below and spaced from said plate and in which the racking head is mounted, vertical guide rods extending upwardly from the cross member and extending through the apertured plate, said aperture in said plate having a larger diameter than the diameter of said vertical guide rods, rods secured to and depending from Said plate and provided with lugs at their lower ends in which the vertical guide rods slidingly engage when vertical reciprocating movement is imparted to the racking head upon actuation of the piston rod connection to the cylinder, a rotary table below said racking heads, conveyor means for feeding empty casks to said table and for receiving filled casks, and a gasand liquid-tight seal between the racking heads and the cask valves, such seal being accomplished by the engagement of the rim extension of the gas valve with the cask valve, pressure being applied to the sealing washer and the appropriate juncture, the arrangement being such that each racking head has a controlled angular movement whereby it becomes self-centering due to the reaction of the resilient annular member when applied to the valve of a cask disposed immediately beneath the racking head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 814,169 Sellenscheidt Mar. 6, 1906 833,365 Bastian Oct. 16, 1906 1,010,692 Schneider Dec. 5, 1911 1,080,469 Murray Dec. 2, 1913 1,498,756 Risser June 24, 1924 1,850,200 Cereghino Mar. 22, 1932 2,644,629 Velie July 7, 1953 

